Walking and pickup stick

Abstract

A combined walking and pickup stick includes a shaft, pickup mechanism and actuator assembly. The actuator assembly controls configuration of the stick as either a walking stick or a pickup stick and also controls operation of the pickup stick. The stick has an adjustable length, but adjustment of the length does not affect operation of the pickup mechanism. The stick also folds for easy storage or transport.

1. A combined walking and pickup stick including:
 a. a shaft; 
 b. a pickup mechanism at or near one end of the shaft; 
 c. an actuator assembly at or near the other end of the shaft; 
 d. an actuation line running from the actuator assembly along the shaft to the pickup mechanism; 
 e. two or more movable turning points at least partly defining a path of the actuation line, each movable turning point having a movable position or axis; 
 wherein the actuator assembly includes first and second actuators each configured, in use, to cause movement of the position or axis of one or more of the moveable turning points, thereby altering the path of the actuation line such that one or both ends of the actuation line are either moved by applied tension or allowed to move by released tension; 
 wherein the first actuator controls configuration of the combined walking and pickup stick as either a walking stick or a pickup stick and the second actuator controls the pickup mechanism. 
 
     
     
       2. A combined walking and pickup stick as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the first and second actuators include two levers. 
     
     
       3. A combined walking and pickup stick as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the two levers rotate about a common pivot axis. 
     
     
       4. A combined walking and pickup stick as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the first actuator is a handle and the second actuator is a trigger. 
     
     
       5. A combined walking and pickup stick as claimed in  claim 1  wherein movement of the first actuator from a neutral position to an operative position results in movement of one or more of the movable turning points, the resulting alteration in the path of the actuation line causing or allowing movement of the pickup mechanism from a stowed position, in which the stick is configured as a walking stick, to an unstowed position, in which the stick is configured as a pickup stick. 
     
     
       6. A combined walking and pickup stick as claimed in  claim 5  wherein, when the first actuator is in the operative position and the pickup mechanism is in the unstowed position, movement of the second actuator from a first position to a second position causes or allows movement of the pickup mechanism from the unstowed position towards a pickup position. 
     
     
       7. A combined walking and pickup stick as claimed in  claim 5  wherein movement of the second actuator from the first position to the second position is possible only when the first actuator is in the operative position. 
     
     
       8. A combined walking and pickup stick as claimed in  claim 5  wherein movement of the first actuator from the operative position to the neutral position results in movement of one or more of the movable turning points, the resulting alteration in the path of the actuation line causing or allowing movement of the pickup mechanism from the unstowed position to the stowed position. 
     
     
       9. A combined walking and pickup stick as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the last movable turning point about which the actuation line passes before running to the pickup mechanism is moved by the second actuator. 
     
     
       10. A combined walking and pickup stick as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the shaft includes a number of joints such that it can be folded, disassembly of the joints for folding of the shaft being enabled by release of tension through movement of one or more of the movable turning points and/or manual movement of the pickup mechanism. 
     
     
       11. A combined walking and pickup stick as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the shaft is an adjustable length shaft. 
     
     
       12. A combined walking and pickup stick as claimed in  11  wherein adjustment of the length of the shaft results in an increase or decrease in the length of an actuation line path between the actuator assembly and the pickup mechanism and a corresponding decrease or increase in the length of an actuation line path elsewhere in the stick such that the total actuation line path length is unchanged and operation of the pickup mechanism is unaffected by the adjustment of the length of the shaft. 
     
     
       13. A combined walking and pickup stick as claimed in  claim 12  wherein the increase and decrease of actuation path lengths occur as a consequence of adjustment of the length of the shaft, without the need for manual adjustment of actuator line path or length. 
     
     
       14. A combined walking and pickup stick as claimed in  claim 11  further including a fixing arrangement configured to fix the length of the shaft at a desired length. 
     
     
       15. A combined walking and pickup stick including:
 a. an adjustable length shaft; 
 b. a pickup mechanism including a jaw at or near one end of the shaft; 
 c. an actuator assembly at or near the other end of the shaft, the actuator assembly including first and second pivoted actuators; and 
 d. an actuation line; 
 wherein: 
 the actuation line is fastened at a first end to a point on the shaft and runs from the first end via the actuator assembly and along the shaft to the pickup mechanism, a second end of the actuation line being connected to the pickup mechanism such that, in use, operations of the first and second actuators result in movement of the actuation line and the actuation of the pickup mechanism; 
 and adjustment of the length of the shaft results in an increase or decrease in the length of an actuation line path between the actuator assembly and the pickup mechanism and a corresponding decrease or increase in the length of an actuation line path elsewhere in the shaft such that the total actuation line path length is unchanged and operation of the pickup mechanism is unaffected by the adjustment of the length of the shaft. 
 
     
     
       16. A combined walking and pickup stick as claimed in  claim 15  wherein the increase and decrease of actuation path lengths occur as a consequence of adjustment of the length of the shaft, without the need for manual adjustment of actuator line path or length. 
     
     
       17. A combined walking and pickup stick as claimed in  claim 15  further including a fixing arrangement configured to fix the length of the shaft at a desired length.